alun j.

Hi Charlie, No fog our end when we went out.........just low grey murk. Thin,fog came up a bit later but Needles light was visible for most of the time. It cleared with the HW and we even had a bit of bright clear sky on the way back. Approaching land and it thickened up a bit more... but still not fog... just poor vis. Good to get out, esp as the sea was so flat..... hardly seen all summer! Now.......... where's that next weather window??? Fri. poss.??? Alun. ps... gentle tides by then!!

Not a great deal to report other than a very pleasant day out ...in flat calm conditions. Shame there was such a big tide pushing through, as it knocked the fishing right off! The 'gentle' conditions suited Dan [aka Gnasher] as he's nursing his broken\injured insides..... and he seemed dead keen to get out and in with a chance of a cod. Out on the edge of the cod park just before 9, the anchor dug in with a 'twang' on the warp... with about 3 to 4 knts of flow.. and it was quickly up to a pound and a half trying to hold bottom. That would hold, but soon the accumulating red weed formed a 'kite ' that lifts ... so frequent clearing was needed. A regular stream of doggies got at the baits and there was just one solid take on mine that was a good fish..... cod or eel was the call as it banged off in the tide........ a few lifts towards me [ and a few runs away] then off it dropped!! No breaks...and the hooks came in bare!........and that was my excitement for the day!! Only as the tide eased did action improve; a couple of hours of whiting teasing with light tackle for me , whilst Dan resolutely stuck to big baits for the all elusive cod! When the ebb started, it soon got up as fast or faster than the earlier flood and we soon realised it had tripped the anchor. As it was after 3 , we decided on a quick clear up and earlier trip back to the slip. I was happy with a few good whiting in the box, but disappointed for Dan who hasn't had a chance to get amongst the cod this winter yet. Another boat on the slip had been in the same area as us and had just one small[ish] cod. Is it the tides or have the cod thinned out a bit??? [ my results have been fewer cod on the past few trips]. Cheers Dan, for the company and crewing as I cleaned up. Hope today wasn't too tiring\painful\ stressing for you and your recovery proceeds rapidly. Alun.

Well done both of you!! Here's to those shiny surfaces getting salty soon ....and some fish on the deck to christen her [before Christmas???]. There's a bottle of fizzy waiting to splash on her nealy added name.... when the call comes. Alun.

Having retained very few of the comp wins from last year, here was one last chance to grab a trophy for my 'den'. Teamed up again with last year's winning crew, Gastronaught found similar conditions [cold, bit of fog..... and a fierce wind chill] as we raced up the harbour just before 8. .......after a swift 'Hello and good luck' to Jim and crew of Small Fry on the slip. I had a plan involving 3 locations for different states of the tide......and the first had us in some very shallow water for the last of the flood. There was so little of the flood left, I thought this was a bad call........it was the shout of..'quick cuppa and a move' that prompted the first bite [ a few light tugs on my spinning wand] ....small bass [??].... no.. the firm pulls of a flattie!......and up comes a nice fat one to the net .........and that was it there.........all quiet again [despite more tea!!]. Spot 2 was crab nightmareville and no fish .... sure it was nothing to do with the proximity of Janski II [!!].....so another move.... to where last year's winner came from. Spot 3 was the most productive.....yielding 3 more plump flounders, but none topped the first fish...that went a whisker over 3 lbs. Not a lively day for fish action, but a couple of quality fish. The kettle was kept busy [ until I ran out of water!!] to help keep out the chill air... Gastro even deployed her dodger to keep us a bit cosier. With more water on the slip at 3.30 than last year, the retrieve on the slip was much easier and we joined the small group of members for the weigh-in. There wasn't a queue and several of us weighed in fine flounders [much better than last year]. My first fish topped the weights by a few ozs. and Rich presented me with a fine hamper of Christmas goodies.... which I, again, shared with my crew Paul [Thanks again Paul, for the company, lively banter, encouraging comments and optimism]. Thanks to Rich......for organising the hamper [and turning up with it on a cold afternoon]..... and to Adam and Paul D. for the weigh-in, organising and photo shoot !! I enjoyed my day....... and it did sound a lot more productive than those that ventured offshore. Alun.

James, Any chance you can change your day to Tues.? ; weather window seems OK [still] for Tues., but Weds. looks a bit fresh!!.... ...but who knows [??], it changes so quickly! I'll be going when it looks calmest. Alun.

Is there a simple [??] strain gauge with a peak reading thingy\device someone has\could bring along...... ...... so that we could each tie up a piece of the same mono to , say, two swivels and stretch to breaking. If we each put 50p or a

Hi James, This far out, you could be lucky!! Weather pattern now looks very unsettled, with wind swinging all over the place, rising and dropping every few hours!! I'm lucky enough to be able to go when it's good! .........I shall be keeping a weather eye!! Hope to see you out there Alun.

Looks like there may be a little on for the comp on Sun.... .....then another on Tues. Anyone like to come after the cod \ whiting on Gastronaught with me?? ......t.b.c. if window holds! Alun.

We were just a few 100 m away and also enjoyed the good weather and ever changing tide [ 6 oz. to 20 oz, weights in about an hour... and back again in a couple more!] Not so much a car park today.....about a dozen boats..... and , I think, faring about the same! Just one cod for us, too,....Terry's luck today!,... but I got the conger and the ray. Apart from that , it was whiting all the way... in fits and starts!....... all sizes with a few in the 3lb class. Thanks, Terry for the trip on Stingray.....the fresh air was just the tonic for my cold [ I hope the sneezing and sniffling didn't put you off too much?!!]...feeling tired but better now. Alun.

We looked too for Dan !!........now all is explained! Wishing a speedy recovery... esp. in time for the Hols. Dan, you missed a nice day today.... but cod action was a bit thin. ......loads of good whiting... but you're not keen on those !! ATB., Alun.

Happy Birthday Neal, So it's a BIG one !! Any big celebrations?? Have a great day ..... looks like it's a nice sunny one. Cheers, Alun.

Ho..Ho...Ho !! Lots of uncertainty over Sunday's forecast ..from this far out. You can get .. moderate W, fresh NW or brisk NE... from 3 of our favourite sites as of this evening. As long as we can launch and retrieve at Baiter, I'm sure we can find somewhere for a flattie or three!.......and a change from cod and whiting! Alun.

No entry fee, as far as I know.

Gastronaught will be fishing with Paul [Zed] joining me. Alun.

Assuming the comp will go ahead whatever the weather, Gastronaught will be out trying to retain at least one more trophy for the year!.... and the hamper was well worth fishing for !!! Paul F. is unable to join me, so I will be looking for crew, Alun.

Dan, Thought you were out today?? Weather cold, but as windy as forecast!! I'm also looking at THurs [if it goes calm].... and Terry [plaicemat] also interested. Dave Penny often keen to crew midweek [??] How big will tide be on Thurs?? Alun.

Hi Andy, We weren't too far away from you.....and in shouting distance of AWOL and Enticer. At one point I counted over 50 [!!] boats ... with a lot close to us. We had action from the off...... with a spotted ray first, then two cod [similar size to yours] before the whiting action started. Whiting coming in all sizes, so there were some nice ones going in the box!! Fortunately, only a few dogfish today........I don't mind the abundance of pout; I think it's a sign there could be cod about!! Looks like the weather is quickly turning windy again...... ao when [??] to get out next? Alun.

It's the weather ..... and the scent of COD !!

Plan changed back to original; Gastro having a break and me out on the 'beast'.. ...not sure of name, it's a big [ 3 .5 ton] Grady White american thing.. with family Jones on board [ me , my bro and his son]. Launching from Lymo as early as I can get them up and out! See you all south of the Needles tomorrow., Alun.

Looks like nearly all of us will be out there on Sunday....... shall we have an impromptu Cod Comp. ??? Photo session with catch, just South of Needles about 3.45 - 4.00 pm. ??? ......or will you be fishing on into the darkness?? Alun.

Change of plan!!! Captain of industry [my bro!!], not able to manage logistics of getting his great big new 'beast' to the water......so he's going to have to rough it on tiny Gastronaught!! See you all out there on Sunday Alun.

All the best Rob; have a good day. I expect you'll be wanting something big to come along on Sunday by way of a pressie?? Happy Birthday......... Alun.

Paul's 13 lb 8 oz cod.

Thanks Paul, for the report, the good company through the day, the excellent fresh tea.........and for showing me [again] how to catch the better cod.!! One for dinner last night......stuffed 4 of us! Looks like the weekend weather window is 'opening'..... perhaps some other members can get out there then; there could be a big swell left after the blow coming today and tomorrow......so I'll be going in something a bit bigger! [if my bro. brings his big, new beast down]. Alun.

I am now crewed for tomorrow....... and have pointed James in the right direction for squid. Alun.